Anniversary nears

Where has the time gone? Has it really been three years since I founded the Intaki Liberation Front?

As I look back over what has been accomplished and what remains to be done I am filled with both a sense of pride and a feeling of sadness.

The ILF has done much to work toward the goal of an independent and sovereign Intaki nation. We have kindled a spark in the area's economy, put thousands to work and made strides toward increasing the safety of Intaki space.

There is much work left to be done, however, so as this third anniversary arrives and the fourth year of our struggle begins we will not offer a celebration, but an observance. We will save the celebration for the day when the ILF can disband and its members go on to other endeavors.

Of warnings and premonitions

While attempting to mediate today, I could not shake a feeling of foreboding. It has been growing for some time, but this was the first occasion where the nagging ill feeling prevented me from finding center.

I do not know if this is because of the recent resurgence of the FDU in Placid, my belief that Intaki Pure is behind several violent attacks against Caldari and Federation enterprises or the increased scrutiny I am receiving from the Gallente government.

I have seen a great many more Federation militia members in Placid lately and news has reached me that several systems have been cleared of Caldari occupation forces. I wonder how long now before the sky above Intaki is once more illuminated with lights of space battle? And when the fighting does return, what will it mean to those who are powerless to do anything but watch and wait?

News that Intaki Pure might have been involved in the SuVee terrorist attacks doesn't surprise me, I'm afraid. Jyotmi is really trying to stir the pot with his public comments these days. I think he'd like nothing more than to see every Intaki separatist wage open war on both the Federation and the State. I fear my old friend has truly lost the path of Ida.

I think the most troubling thing, though, is the sudden appearance of these unidentified agents who are looking into my private life. My grocer tells me Intaki men with off-worlder accents asked him about when I shop and what I buy. Someone was asking about me at a book store run by a friend of mine. And twice now someone has tried to breach the security of my estate.

I do not fear so much for my own safety as for that of my family. Taking on the life of a capsuleer and secessionist, I have accepted certain risks. My wife and children, though, are innocents and should not be made to suffer for my actions.

"Under state control"

With Ishukone vessels moving above Intaki Prime, I am deeply disturbed by events in the Essence and Verge Vendor regions. It appears that facilities owned and operated by Sukuuvestaa Corporation were attacked by unknown saboteurs.

Commander Aakonoshin Piertalen, head of Sukuuvestaa's Internal Security division, said the attacks were carried out by "a highly organized group of Gallente terrorists seeking to deny the establishment of State rule in our new territories."

While these occurances do not directly affect the people of Intaki, the statements of Commander Piertalen are of some concern to those of us who are currently involved in the creation of a sovereign nation of Intaki-populated systems.

In the "auction" that was held earlier this year, it was announced that Ishukone had won the development rights to the Intaki system. CBD Corporation was the "winner" of Harroule and Ostingele; Hyasyoda Corporation was the "winner" of Agoze, Annancale, Brarel and Vey and Wiyrkomi Corporation was the "winner" of Eugales and Fraire.

These systems were among the earliest to be colonized by space-faring Intaki and have large settlements of ethnic Intaki residents. As part of the disenfranchised Placid Region, representatives of the planetary governments of these systems have been invited to consider participation in the creation of the Intaki Sovereignty.

The ILF is currently neutral in its position toward the Caldari State and hopes that the State could become a principal trade partner with the Intaki Sovereignty. The statements of Commander Piertalen cast a shadow on this however, and if other Caldari corporations follow Sukuuvestaa's example, the ILF may have little choice but to join the anti-Caldari resistance.

No hope left

I can hold little hope of any good coming from the Gallente Federation. With Jacus Roden as the new president, I fear that the only course to a free Intaki will be a bloody one.

Roden secured a majority of 58.7% of all votes cast, but that did not include, of course, Intaki or any of the other occupied systems. His election is invalid and he cannot in good conscious be considered a President of the people.

His stated goals are primarily to take back Caldari Prime and the Luminaire System. Typical Gallente pride, to take back something that wasn't theirs in the first place while ignoring real and pressing matters in their own back yard.

Aguard received just over 30% percent of the vote, but some analysts believe that the votes of many frontier worlds excluded from the election process due to the "No Vote" law may have significantly increased Aguard's share of the vote and denied Roden an outright majority.

Without a nullification of the election from the Supreme Court, however, this is all just supposition and conjecture.

The times are changing

On the eve of the Gallente Presidential elections, Daren Fasio has withdrawn his candidacy and is now supporting Aguard. Given some of Fasio's previous statements, I'm not sure whether this will help her campaign or harm it.

Closer to home, I've heard that a fleet of Caldari haulers, with Ishukone markings, are making their way toward Intaki. Moreover they are flying with an escort of Mordu's Legion craft.

I have issued an order to ILF pilots to not engage the newcomers unless threatened. We need some time to determine what this new activity means before we act.

It would be imprudent to attack those who could bring benefit to the Intaki.

More good things from Aguard

Celes Aguard had a great interview broadcast last night. I think she really got some good points across. The Scope says viewership set new records.

To quote the Scope's article: "In the interview, Aguard spoke about her mixed Gallente/Jin-Mei heritage and career in Mies, as well as her plans to support fringe economies, as well as her controversial criticism of CONCORD. Post-show polls at the CAS show an increase in support for Aguard and her policies, placing her behind Jacus Roden, but ahead of Vilard Garioss in the race for the presidency."

Roden, I don't about. I use his equipment, but I'm not sure he would be a good fit for Intaki. He strikes me as the kind who would not understand the plight of the Placid Intaki. With Intaki disenfranchised, I can only hope that our brothers in unoccupied space take that into account

It happened

I can't believe it. I'm totally dumbfounded. The Senate actually approved a bill that denies the most basic right of a democracy from millions, perhaps billions, of legal Federal citizens.

The ILF is already mobilizing to protest this illegal measure and I am lobbying my contacts within the Supreme Court.

Our only hope at this point is that the President will not sign the bill. I have little faith in him doing so, and signing the act would only be the last in long line of acts of treachery on his part. Although with the margin at which it passed the bill, the Senate would likely override a veto, even if it was issued.

What a sad day. I have always hoped for the creation of an independent Intaki, but I never longed for the death of the Federation. This law is, I fear, a step in that direction however.

Perhaps there is still some hope left and Celes Aguard will win the election and restore sanity to the Federal government.

A shameful act

The Senate has actually done it. The bill to disenfranchise the Intaki, and the rest of the occupied systems, has actually made it to the floor for debate.

What's even more unbelievable is that there doesn't seem to be much opposition to it. It is as if all my speeches and comments on the apathetic neglect of the Intaki people by the Federal government has been honed into a single law.

Can there be any more damning bit of evidence that membership in the Gallente Federation is not a benefit to the people of the Intaki Sovereignty?

How can any who live in the effected areas consider the Federation their legal government if this bill is allowed to pass?

An unsettling rumor

Although it has been some time since I undertook any missions for the Senate, a friend of mine who works as an agent in Villore tipped me off to a bill that might soon be debated on the floor.

The law would seek to exclude the occupied Federation systems from the upcoming presidential election. As little faith as I have in the Federation, I cannot believe that such a thing would be allowed to come to pass.

I have already begun preparing a message to Senators who I believe could be key in challenging such a measure. I only hope that the rumor proves false and I will have no need to send it.

A bad feeling

I now have confirmation that Jyotmimana is the newest member of Inaki Pure.

This worries me for several reasons. First, and for reasons I do not understand, Jyotmi has a vendetta against me and takes every opportunity to challenge me. I fear a bad cloning process may have left him mentally damaged.

But also, he is becoming increasingly radical in his views toward non-Intaki. With the ILF's view of openly accepting any who wish to follow the Ida and join us in our struggle, I fear Jyotmi's influence may put us at odds with Intaki Pure.

Time will tell, I suppose. Perhaps I am looking for trouble where it doesn't exist.

A new hope?

I was fortunate enough today to be granted a short audience with Celes Aguard, Governor of the Mies system. She is currently campaigning for the Gallente Presidency and I have to say that I hope she wins.

Although she and I differ in our views on a number of issues, I believe she is the best of the current crop of candidates and will be the most likely to entertain the idea of a peaceful Intaki secession.

Aguard recently appeared in Lirsaurtton where she spoke mostly about Jin Mei issues, but she also said things that were encouraging to me as an Intaki.

"When frontier settlements starve under Caldari blockades, and riots and panic spreads among those who feel they are voiceless, all our leaders can say is 'toughen up,'" said Aguard in her speech. "Fear is a powerful motivator, but it has failed to quell the governmental apathy toward the minorities of the Federation."

At least she understands and acknowledges the problem.

The War is Over!

As I had hoped, the current war has come to an end after only a week. The alliance attacking us apparently decided the cost of fighting us wasn't worth whatever pleasure they get from picking fights.

An interesting thing has occurred, however. Immediately prior to the war declaration we had accepted two new members. They were expelled for security concerns and now one of them has founded his own corp.

"Intaki Pure" has the aim to create a free Intaki state, but their take on things is a bit different than that of the ILF. They are more extreme in their beliefs of separation and seek to expel all non-Intaki from the system.

Given the ILF's mixed-race approach, I wonder how things will turn out between us. For now, we have positive standings with them, but time will tell.

A source tells me than my old friend Jyotimana was seen in their offices at the Astral Mining Station. That is a rumor that I will have to follow up on.

A good day to fly

When this war began, it was my goal to bloody the noses of a few of the offending alliance's pilots. Today we were successful beyond my highest hopes.

Joined by our Caldari comrades in I-RED, the ILF was able to play a part in the destruction of not one but three enemy battleships. The cost to the enemy is the hundreds of millions of isk.

We have suffered a number of losses as well, but mostly small ships which are easily enough replaced.

At any rate, this war is serving as a good training exercise for our pilots, helping them sharpen skills they may be called upon to use in defense of the Intaki Sovereignty someday.

At war once more

The ILF is at war once again. It would appear that as with our previous war, the corporation that has declared against us is not interested in our politics, but is merely looking for an easy target for its campaign of grief.

I'm calling in a few allies from various corps and alliances, so this griefer organization may not find us to be the prime target they thought.

The downside of the whole affair is that we will have to suspend operations at our production facility. We will continue to pay our workers, but will only be able to do so for a few weeks. Hopefully this situation will be resolved by then.

Missing the point

The ILF is in the news again with a story about our space factory.

It's a nice little story, but I'm afraid it rather misses the point. Rather than focus on the isk we have made or the fact that we are rolling out a few high tech ships, I'd rather have it known that we are putting Intaki people to work. That we are training them and giving them good jobs.

More than a few advanced vessels, we are also making ammunition, modules, rigs and many standard issue vessels as well. This production, while not as flashy as an assault frigate, is employing thousands of people.

That's the point.

A new face

While patrolling Intaki recently I met a new pilot to the area, Dakki, a visitor from the Syndicate.

It's been a while since I was in the Syndicate and my exit was not one that I would like to repeat anytime soon. But I wonder, what connections could be made there.

I am example enough that not every Intaki born in Syndicate space wishes to remain there. But how many would want to relocate to the home systems?

So far, our plans have focused mostly on future relationships with the Federation and the State. But what of our cousins in the Syndicate? It's no accident that the borders of the Intaki Sovereignty touch the Syndicate that much is true.

Perhaps I should pursue this a bit further and see what rabbit hole this Dakki might lead us down.

A plan open to debate

My recent post to the Intergalactic Summit regarding a plan for the creation of the Intaki Sovereignty has created a bit of a stir, but not much of a debate, I'm afraid.

As I had secretly feared, it still appears that many within the Federation are willing to even consider the possibility that the Intaki would be better off outside the confines of the outdated union.

Rather than offer a constructive comment about my proposal, they choose to launch attacks. How I grow tired of hearing "Intaki is part of the Federation, get used to it."

If only the pro-Feds realized that is exactly this type of callus behavior that is the cause of much of the problems between the Intaki and the Federation today.

I still hope for a peaceful solution and work for it everyday, but it is increasingly easy to see why some of brethren are prepared to take to their ships and fight for a free Intaki in the more violent fashion.

Growing pains

It's interesting what a little publicity can do for a corp and a cause. After banging the drums for Intaki Sovereignty for nearly three years now, it seems some of the news organizations are really taking notice of us. I'm sure the presence of the Caldari militia in Intaki has something to do with it, but I'll take the boost regardless.

The upside is that we are attracting a lot of new pilots. This is very good and we are bringing in some experienced pilots to go with the rookies. The drawback is that those rookies need training to be brought up to speed as quickly as possible. Low sec is rough country and I don't like to see them take too many hits in the early part of their careers.

Some of my freespace connections have offered to bring us into an alliance that would give us that training. However, I'm afraid that politically it would prove "too hot" and would also take us too far away from the Sovereignty to be effective in our mission.

We're also having to deal with an issue that I truly hate: internal security. With the hatred that many spew at us, it is little doubt that some groups would love to get an agent inside the ILF.

Aw the joys and pains of success.

Impressive fantasies

I'll give Jyotmimana credit, he certainly does have some active imagination. According to his most recent posts on the ILF, he believes that I am creating a network of pirate contacts who will help me "rule over low-sec Placid."

I honestly don't know where he comes up with some of these things. It seems to me that given many of the ILF's policies and public networking, he would be on safer ground to jump in the Pro-Fed loonies and label me a Caldari conspirator.

I guess maybe he's going for originality.

A ghost from the past

A former ILF pilot has recently resurfaced and he seems to have an axe to grind with me and the corp.

I originally recruited Jyotmimana Karana to serve as a sort of cultural minister in the early days of the ILF. I wanted him to collect, preserve and display examples of Intaki art, language, literature and music. He faded away and after a prolonged absence was dismissed from the ILF membership.

Now he has come back with fanciful tales of pirate conspiracies and theories that I am planning to install myself as dictator of the Intaki System.

I can't help but wonder why now and why like this? A cloning accident, perhaps. Or maybe, like some of the current ILF pilots believe, he is being paid to dance and sing, a puppet of someone else. My old friend Marcus Tedric perhaps?

Regardless, it is a troubling development that I have avoiding confronting head on. I had hoped he would talk himself out and be done, but he now appears to be very persistent.

Coming soon to your freezer section

The ILF's efforts to improve the economy of the Intaki System have, to date, rested primarily in the areas of industrial production and the retail marketing of capsuleer products. Our factories put Intaki to work and our sales add to the local tax base.

We are poised to undertake a new venture, however, that will have a very dynamic impact on the lives of working people on the planet. Through a partnership with a pool of investors, the ILF may soon help to form a farming cooperative owned and operated by local farmers.

The food grown on the farms will be processed and frozen for export by the Reva Division to markets established by our partners in the venture.

There are many details still to be resolved, but the implications are very exciting.

"Through perseverance many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure."
Idama Disraeli

New members

It is a good time for the ILF. We continue to attract new members to our cause and we are meeting growth projections in our industrial enterprises.

There is a fire burning within the corp now and I labor to find ways to keep it going. I want to make sure we keep gaining ground, but I don't want to rush us into a hasty mistake.

I meditate now on the words of the wise Idama:

Go to the people. Learn from them. Live with them. Start with what they know. Build with what they have. The best of leaders when the job is done, when the task is accomplished, the people will say we have done it ourselves.

Now is the time, Intaki is the place!

They say the universe has become too complex for simple answers. They are wrong. There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right. A wise Idama said that "the destiny of man is not measured by material computation. When great forces are on the move in the galaxy, we learn we are spirits -- not animals." And he said, "There is something going on in time and space, and beyond time and space, which, whether we like it or not, spells duty."

You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of a free Intaki, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children's children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done.

So wrong I want to scream

WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

What is it with the IGS that makes people think they can post totally outrageous lies and pass them off as fact. The idiocy that runs rampant there is really almost too much for me to stand.

Two cases in point:
Dante Vailatti: This one is a prime example of Pro-Fed ignorance on parade. He ticks off example after example of how the ILF is counterproductive to helping the Intaki and then lists ways that we could be "constructive."

But the idiot has his facts backward. In fact, we have done everything on his "constructive" list and more. And I would like for him to show me an instance where the ILF has "hidden in [an] asteroid belt and shot at the occasional frigate."

And then, and this one really floored me, was
Dutch Gunnar: Now this one makes me really upset, because she is a pilot whom I used to respect. But after she lost control of her corp to a bunch of rogue pilots who knowingly and unapologetically fired on ILF while we had mutual BLUE standings, I have nothing but disdain for her.

Now she jumps into our thread and says that her corp is anti-pirate and has been around long before the ILF. It'd be almost laughable if it wasn't so damn sad.

Farewell, war bird, farewell

Oh, that mercurial nymph Yuri. Her path of the Ida is a fiery one and she burns across the cosmos like a comet.

I wondered how long it would be before she formed her own splinter wing to carry out her own brand of freedom fighting.

It is, of course, splendidly ironic, that Ankhesentapemkah actually created this monster for herself. Had she not been so psychotically vocal in her calls for Yuri to be removed from the ILF, I doubt Yuri would have taken the step to leave on her own at this time.

Now, Ankhesentapemkah has called down Yuri's formidable temper with a war dec against her corporation.

As much as I am loathe to support violence as a means to any end, I must say that I gather some degree of satisfaction in seeing Ankhesentapemkah deal with the monster she created.

A blast from the past

The on-going debate over the ILF and its position in the universe has brought out several pilots from Strix Armaments and Defence. Really? Strix?

When was the last time anyone saw one of these Pro-Fed dogmatics anywhere near the Intaki System? I thought they had pulled out of Placid last year. I know the members I keep flagged in my pod console are rarely active.

But there they are, speaking like they are experts on the Intaki situation. At least, David Caldera is an Intaki.

Far worse are the Pro-Fed Gallente who think they have some right to continue to dictate to the Intaki how we should run our own affairs. I can think of few worse offenders than Hussain. Doesn't he realize when he makes his veiled threats to continue to Gallente status quo he is only lending support to our claims?

By the Ida, I swear that some days I can hardly stomach to read what those fools post.

Ankhesentapemkah

Ankhesentapemkah. The very name makes my blood boil. This woman is insufferable.

"Kill Yuri Intaki!" seems to be the only message repeating over and over in her brain. How could anyone who claims to champion the Intaki cause be so far removed from the Ida?

First she curses as traitors and terrorists. Then, when we push for peace and understanding she rails against us for that.

I grow weary of tasting the back of her hand. I am told that her voice carries weight and that she is held in high regard in some circles. It never ceases to amaze me that people confuse being shrill and obstinate with being important. Being loud does not make you right.

I pray for the wisdom to navigate these dark waters.

What else would I expect?

So much for hoping that our relief effort would do anything to help convince our detractors of their error in judgment.

Within hours of the release of the article by The Scope, some cretin had to start bashing the ILF in a post on the Intergalactic Summit. I don't know why I let the fools bother me so much; the idiot who started the thread couldn't even spell propaganda properly.

It does illustrate just how blindly some of those who cling to the Federation will follow its dogma. They honestly believe that everything in the Intaki System is fine and there were no problems on the homeworld prior to the arrival of the Caldari.

Idiots...

At long last — success

It certainly took long enough, but planetside officials are at last able to take receipt of the aid supplies we have been gathering for the last three months.

And, to add to it, The Scope has finally taken notice of our activities here.

Maybe now people will realize that we are not terrorists and have the well-being of the Intaki people at heart.

An uneasy peace

It was with some difficulty that I was able to reach Geerim Frein in police custody today. He is indeed a good man and one dedicated to the people of his village. There was no question of loyalty among the hundreds who followed him.

I was gladdened that they were able to surrender without coming to harm, but the whole scenario was a depressing one for me. Intaki taking up arms and being suppressed by their own police.

As much as I pray for it, I am losing faith that there can be a path to independence without some bloodshed. Things have already gotten too far out of hand with the Federal Defense Union and I fear that our allies within the Caldari militia will have little power to stop their government should a hostile take-over of Intaki's sovereignty be planned.

I have expressed as much to Vremaja Idama, but his answers are as cryptic as any riddle. If forces beyond my control lead to a bloody path, so be it. But I cannot and will not advocate open violence as a means to achieve our goal.

Alarming trend

Scope News Bulletin

Citizens on Intaki are arming themselves in preparation for the anticipated sale of our planet to the Caldari megacorps. The news reports cite Geerim Frein as one of the leaders. I've met him, but only briefly. I do not believe he is a rash individual, so his actions are a sure indication of the frustration felt by the population of Intaki.

I cannot say I blame them. This action by Heth runs directly opposed to what members of the Caldari militia told us when they came into Intaki. I do not think the generals lied to us intentionally, however. I believe they were lied to by their leadership.

First the Gallente tax us and offer nothing in return and now the Caldari sell our resources to the highest bidders; when will these fools realize that the Intaki System and her residents are not property?

I remain dedicated as ever to a peaceful creation of a free Intaki State, but I fear this is the beginning of a violent era in Intaki history. With how much blood must the Intaki pay for what is already theirs?

Home again

I have arrived home again, but my arrival is bittersweet. I was making progress in improving my standing with the Supreme Court when violence once again broke out on the home world. Why does this always seem to happen while I am away?

Fortunately, the wealth I earn as a star captain affords my family some protection, but it is still unnerving to be across the galaxy and learn that violent riots are taking place not far from where your babies sleep.

To add insult to injury, the pro-Fed contingent on the Intergalactic Summit has taken up the cause of challenging everything any member of the ILF posts. It's frustrating to be told the will of the Intaki people by a Jin-Mei who has never lived in the system. It's almost worse to be subjected to the idealized memories of someone who grew up on the planet but hasn't been back in years.

It would be so much easier to live up to the accusations they make; to turn terrorist and attack anything that moved in the system. I sometimes wish one of them would show up in Intaki so that I could give them a welcome like the one I received on my first visit to the home world.

But doing so would be to turn from the Ida and to debase myself. I would be no better than the pirates I have sworn to oppose. No, I must continue on suffering the fools and their name calling.

On the brighter side, my return to Intaki allowed me to negotiate two mutual aid agreements with alliances interested in operating in the Intaki area. Given USF's recent departure, these new agreements come at an opportune time.

While I do not relish the thought of armed conflict, I am not so blind as to think that the pirates and opportunists will not be beaten back without a fight.

I must admit, though, it is nice to sleep in my own bed.

What things that must be done

It's always hard to leave Intaki. Knowing that my wife and children remain behind while I warp away or clone jump across the galaxy. If it wasn't for the importance of the cause, if I didn't believe that I was working for a better future for them, I couldn't do it.

Space holds no allure for me. Operating in its cold and empty vastness is a means to an end. I look forward to a day when I can retire from my captain's chair and resume my quite life as a writer and teacher; to return to my role as husband and father.

As much as I would like, however, I cannot accomplish my goals in Intaki. Fighting off the Serpentis and skirmishing with pirates may do more in the short term to improve the lives of the Intaki, but it does little to win us our sovereignty.

I must now return to Villore and champion our cause there. If I can win enough support among the senators and sway the Supreme Court's opinion on the matter, only then will we stand a chance to gain independence without violence between us and the Gallente Federation.

Friends and Enemies

The friend of my friend is my friend. The enemy of my friend is my enemy. The friend of my enemy is my enemy. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

If only life in such absolutes were true. This new Intaki movement certainly proven that they are not.

I am thankful for their assistance in running out Huzzah Federation, but their clashes with Beyond Evil and Good, particularly on the Intergalactic Summit forum do little help our cause. After much ruffled feathers, though, it seems the two groups have worked things out at least.

The whole affair just leaves me a little depressed, however. As much as I have tried, I cannot seem to be the leader the Intaki separatist movement needs to unify the various different groups and catalyze the idea into a reality. Perhaps I am too moderate for the extremists to comprise with. I deny them the blood they feel must be spilled. And I am too extreme for the groups like Placid Reborn who feel we should continue to hobble along under Federation rule.

By the Ida, I pray for the strength to carry on and see this task completed.

Another ILF success

While we may not mount the killboard stats of other corps, the ILF does find ways to measure its success.

This week's fuel supply operation was a shining example. The ILF assembled, organized and executed the mission perfectly. No fuel was lost, no ships were damaged.

I'm told the delivery will keep Serenity Station up and running for five months. I remember that when I founded the ILF people didn't think the corp would last five months!

Never a dull moment

You can call living in the Intaki System a lot of things, but boring isn't one of them.

We are currently prepping for our first clandestine jump freighter voyage to bring fuel to Serenity Station. This is an exciting development as it should allow us to bring in a massive amount of fuel in one jump. This will greatly reduce the number of supply runs we need and be safer for our pilots.

Anything we can do to stay a step ahead of the gate-campers is great, but saving time and isk makes its that much better.

I've also been receiving some information about a new Intaki separatist movement that could be making a move in the area. I'm always a little leery about about fanatics, even those who support my cause, so I'm going to have to wait and see before I pass judgment on this group.

An unexpected twist

Well, it would appear that Invicta. did not oust BEG after all. Instead a new group has come out of the Intaki Syndicate region and beaten them.

Huzzah Federation once started as anti-pirate but turned to piracy out of greed and laziness. For the time being, they don't appear to have noticed us to much. I have put the corp on highest alert and set Huzzah to red.

The Invicta. situation

Invicta. has put the BEG POS in reinforced mode again. This attack seems much more focused than the first one in April.

BEG's station will come out of reinforced tomorrow. They are going to try to fight off any attack when that happens, but then, win or lose, they are going to move their operation.

This attack reminds me of the old axiom that those who live by the sword will die by the sword. BEG certainly has done more than their share to fight the pirates who swarm the space around Intaki, but their overzealous use of their NBSI policy has led them into trouble before and appears to have done so again.

Regardless of the cause or outcome, ILF pilots will be in Intaki to help BEG with its POS, whether that be defending it or dismantling it.

Stepping back and enjoying it

For more than two years I kept a firm grip on the reins of the ILF. I made appointments and put people in charge of some areas or aspects, but I never surrendered any of the true control over the corp's direction.

That has changed and I think for the better. Since naming AncientGuardian as my mahesha, I feel as though a great weight has been lifted off my shoulders. He has a steady hand and a level head and after all this time, I am reasonably assured that we share the same vision for the future of the Intaki people.

With my new-found freedom to escape from some of my management duties I plan to take an extended holiday on Intaki. My twins are beginning their "firsts" (first words, first steps, etc.) and I don't want to miss them because I'm floating in a pod or arguing with some Senator in Villore.

A warm welcome

I have never advocated a violent revolution for the Intaki people and I think should relations with the Federation completely sour I shall miss certain aspects of my life in Gallente space.

In Aunia, for example, I am always warmly welcomed. Eladette Gelarbese is always glad to see me and I must admit that aside from Mrs. Hawke, she is one of my favorite women.

How many missions have I undertaken for her? It must be hundreds by now. I know many find running missions mundane, but I find great satisfaction joining the crew of the ILF Liberty Hammer and clearing out some pirates every now and then. Sure the old Dominix isn't as flashy as some of the new ships and maybe I should care a little more about my standing with the Amarr and Caldari, but I don't. They are a threat to the prosperity of honest men and women and they must be stopped.

If only a few more Gallente cared as much about the Intaki as I do about them. But perhaps that is asking too much.

Cold and lonely

One thing I've noticed this week, the rooms in Villore are always kept cold. I very nearly left my lodging here in the station to sleep in my ship. Although I do not like the dreams I have while in my pod, I feared hypothermia.

Pacing endlessly for warmth did give me some time to think about the situation in Intaki, however. It is blatantly apparent that the Federation has no true interest in the Intaki System. There was no move made when the system fell to the Caldari and our own relief effort was turned away while needed goods and medicine hovered in orbit.

A new plan for secession must be developed and put forward as soon as possible. I have a few ideas ... but they will need to germinate and grow a bit before I put them forward. Going public with a plan to early would be rash, as it will surely be picked apart by the Pro-Feds. No, it must be strong enough to stand before I reveal it.

Unbelievable!

After working for more than a week with Gallente officials and planetary leaders, they have refused to accept our donations!

I'm totally blown away. Their reason? They don't have a mechanism to accept such a donation from a private corporation and even if they did, they do not have the means to see to the distribution of what we have collected.

At least they were awfully damned apologetic when they turned us down. Bastards! If the whole planet were lit afire I don't think they would accept water from the ILF!

It makes me wonder why I even bother sometimes.

A proud day

Today, I am proud to be an Intaki. When news reports began to come through of potential shortages on Intaki Prime, the ILF and her allies sprang into action. In two weeks we have raised the following:

antibiotics: 83,486
construction blocks:663
consumer electronics: 7717
Coolant x 1500
Dairy products: 15,590
electronics parts:14,394
Enirched Uranium: 420
Frozen food: 82,632
frozen plant seed: 10,307
high tech scanner: 50
high tech transmitter: 50
high-tech data chips: 300
High-Tech Manufacturing Tools x 13
holoreels: 3630
hydrogen batteries: 3382
livestock: 417
Long-Limb Roes x 170
mechanical parts: 34,872
miniature electronics: 5,131
Planetary Vehicles x 296
planetary vehicles: 1,536
Polytextiles x 1875
Quafe ultra: 100
Quafe x 10
robotics: 1250
Rocket Fuel x 10
Spiced Wine x 60
spirits: 2720
Superconductors x 370
synthetic oil: 10
Tabacco x 104
Transmitter x 10
water: 634,555
Wheat: 1060
Zemnar: 150

In addition we have collected over 125 million isk and a number of vessels have been donated as well. I am now in talks with Federation officials for the distribution of these goods.

Useless

Useless. I want to believe the men and women of the Senate are, at heart, good people. But they seem to be more interested in endless discussions. I have no time for parliamentary procedure when the Intaki people suffer.

Reports of anticipated shortages did nothing to motivate the Senate into action on the situation in Intaki. The ILF and its allies are compiling stores of goods for delivery to the Intaki people.

It's sad that the Caldari militia appears more interested in the plight of the Intaki than its own government. It makes it easy to see why my grandfather made the choice he did those many years ago.

Still no better

The conditions on Intaki are not much better than they were a few weeks ago. For the most part the rioting has stopped and I am thankful that my wife and children are safe.

I cannot believe the snide arrogance of those who have never been to Intaki when they say "The Intaki are as free as anyone." Free to live in fear of the space above them and now free to fear their own neighborhoods.

I travel to Villore again this week to meet with my contacts within the Senate. Hopefully the situation in Intaki will be enough of an embarassment to them that they will be more willing to listen to reason.

12 dead

My heart is sad and heavy this week. While I was away in Aunia, running missions for those inept clowns in the Federation Navy, rioting broke out in Intaki. Hundreds were injured, but worse, a dozen people died.

I've lost ships before and the valiant crews that went with them. Deaths by the hundreds. But those men and women accepted that risk when they signed on aboard a star vessel.

The deaths on the planet this week are different, however. Those people did not choose to be born on a planet abandoned to pirates and drug smugglers. They did not choose to be "marginalized" by the Gallente.

Their only crime was to cry out for a better life. And the punishment was death.